Acetylene generator



M. P. DE MOTTE ACETYLENE GENERATQR Feb. 1, 1938. 2,106,972

Filed Dec. 28, 1934 be, o

INVENTOR MAURICE P. DEMOTTE i AZEORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNiTEDSTATES PATENT OFFIQE ACETYLENE GENERATOR York Application December 28,1934, Serial No. 759,515

16 Claims.

The invention relates to acetylene generators and more particularly tothe carbide feeding and gas pressure control mechanism of acetylenegenerators of the medium pressure, carbide-to-water type.

Such generators are frequently made in portable sizes adapted for beingmoved from one place of use to another while they are fully charged, andin order to prevent superfluous gas accumulation during such movementthey are usually placed in inoperative condition by closing the carbidefeed valve. These valves are not water-tight however, and when thegenerators are moved over rough ground such as that around 5construction projects or along Welded pipe line installations, thesplashing water within the generator will pass the carbide valve andreach the carbide within the hopper. This not only causes a waste of gasbut the wet carbide sludge formed so in the hopper interferes with theproper flow of carbide when the generator is restored to operatingcondition. Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to providesuch a generator with a carbide feed valve that may be closed and sealedagainst the passage of water or moisture.

When generators of this type are recharged it is the usual practice tomanually close the carbide feed valve and then release the gas pressurewithin the generator. This causes the automatic valve control mechanismto exert its full operating force on the manual valve closing mechanism,and this places an objectionable strain on the valve operating andcontrol structure. Therefore, another object of this invention is toprovide such a generator with both automatic and manual valve controlmeans of which either may operate to close the valve without placing anobjectionable strain on the other.

Generators such as this are frequently used to supply acetylene forwelding operations on construction projects which are far removed from asource of supply. As their place of use changes they are frequentlytransported across country over rough ground and used in unprotectedlocations amid considerable construction activity Where they are theonly source of acetylene supply. During such use they are subjected toconsiderable hazard and at times are accidentally damaged. Heretofore,when such generators were damaged, it has been necessary to suspend workwhile they were dismantled and repaired, and this caused undesirable andexpensive delays. Therefore, another object of this invention is toprovide such a generator with a carbide feeding and gas controlmechanism of one or more integral units which, when damaged, may bequick 1y removed and replaced by operative units, so that damagedgenerators may be restored to serv ice more quickly.

Heretofore, during normal operation of prior generators of this type,small particles of feeding carbide accumulated on the interiormechanism, and then when such generators were moved, especially overrough ground, the shocks of transportation dislodged this accumulationwhich dropped into the water within the generator and produced anundesirable generation of gas. Therefore, another object of thisinvention is to provide such a generator with an interior mechanism uponwhich such accumulation will not collect, and to also provide such agenerator with a shield to prevent accumulation of floating particlessuch as dust from collecting on the portions or" the operating mechanismWhere it will interfere with its normal operation.

In generators of this type the gas pressure is usually controlled by aspring balanced diaphragm, and due to the relatively high pressureWithin the generators such springs have heretofore been comparativelyheavy and stiff, and their operating range has been Within a relativelysmall degree of compression. With such springs the resistance tocompression varies rapidly with the degree of compression with theresult that the sensitivity of the control mechanim was much, less thanthat desired. Therefore, another object of this invention is to providesuch a generator with pressure control mechamsm that is much moresensitive to changes in pressure than those employed heretofore.

In order to vary the operating pressure in generators of this type amanually adjustable screw is usually provided to vary the tension of thepressure control spring. The outer ends of these screws usually projectoutside of the generator Where they are exposed to injury, and as thesescrews movewith adjustment and consequently project various distances itis difficult to cover or protect them. Therefore, another object of thisinvention is to provide such a generator with a pressure controladjusting mechanism that projects a fixed distance and is protected fromexposure to injury. Another object is to provide a pressure controladjusting mechanism that operates more easily than those knownheretofore.

Still other objects are to provide such a generator that is morecompact, more self contained more sensitive, more rugged, moreinterchangeable, and more reliable and efiicient than those knownheretofore.

These and other new and novel features of the invention will be morefully described and explained in the following specification and theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front View of an acetylene generator embodying my inventionwith one of the doors of the accessory chamber open to show the locationof the accessory equipment;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view substantially along line 22 ofFig. 1 showing the general arrangement of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along line 33 of Fig. 2showing the structure of the control mechanism in detail; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the isolated spring assemblyunit.

The invention, as illustrated in the drawing, may be embodied in anacetylene generator of the medium pressure, carbide-to-water type,having a closed casing of symmetrical contour comprising a watercontaining and gas generating lower portion A and a somewhat smallercarbide containing and gas storage upper portion 13. The upper end ofthe lower portion A may taper inwardly and upwardly so as to merge withthe upper portion B which may be provided with a conical top C. In orderto provide access to the interior of the generator the meeting portionsof sections A and B may be respectively provided with separable flangesi3 and i2 suitably joined by conventional means such as a plurality ofbolts l4, and appropriate hinges i5.

The upper section B may also be provided with a suitable compartment orchamber D within which the accessory equipment, with which suchgenerators are usually provided, may be inclosed and protected by asuitable closure such as doors I6 and [8. The compartment D ispreferably within the general outline of section B with which the doorsi6 and I8 substantially conform. The generator may be further providedwith conventional features such as a carbide charging door 20, gasoutlet manifold 22, water filling plug 24, overflow plug 28, sludgeagitator 28, residue or drain valve 38, anchoring eyelets 32, handles34, and charging platform 36.

The upper portion of the interior of section B may be provided with acarbide hopper E having a downwardly tapering wall or bottom 33 with theupper portion or margin rigidly secured to the inner wall of section Bby an impervious joint such as an autogenous weld. The lower end of thecarbide hopper E may be provided with a suitable depending spout 453having a carbide outlet opening 42 therein. For convenience in attachingadjacent accessories the spout 49 may be secured to the lower end of thecarbide hopper by conventional means, but'to facilitate removal of theoutlet the spout 46 is preferably secured to an annular hopper castingor ring 44 by suitable means such as a plurality of bolts 46, and thering 44 may in turn be rigidly secured around a suitable opening in thebottom of the hopper by conventional means such as a weld 48. The lowerportion of the spout 49 may be provided with a drip flange 5! and thisflange may be provided with an interior annular groove 52 adjacent andbelow outlet 42 in which an annular compressible valve seat 54 of softrubber or the like is removably secured by a supporting retainer plate56 and an interfitting spring ring 58. The opening in the annular valveseat 54 may be of substantially the same size and substantially inalignment with the outlet opening 42 with which it cooperates and formsa part,

and the flow of carbide from within the hopper through the outletopening may be controlled by a carbide valve 60 that seats on valve seat54 and forms a fluid-tight joint through which no Water or moisture canenter the hopper and cause generation of gas when the valve is closed.This carbide valve may form a part of a carbide feed and gas pressurecontrol mechanism F that may be detached from the generator as a unit.

The control mechanism unit F may include a pliable diaphragm 62 uponwhich the gas pres sure within the generator is balanced by one or moreexpanding springs such as 64 and 66. These springs may be compressedwithin a suitable housing as in operative relation with-the diaphragmwhich is operably connected with the carbide valve 60.

The housing 68 may be of any suitable shape and it may be mounted in anysuitable position with respect to the generator, although it ispreferably cylindrical with a closed end or bottom, and it is preferablymounted within an opening l!) in the outer wall of the generatorwith theclosed bottom outside thereof. The housing may be secured ,to thegenerator by any suitable means, but it is preferably provided with anannular flange 72 which is secured around the central portion thereof bysuitable means such as a weld l3 and this flange may be secureddirectly'to the generator casing. However, due to the thinness andcurvature of the casing, it is preferably secured to the inner face of areinforcing flange ring 74 that is secured to the margin of opening 10outside the casing by suitable means such as an autogenous weld 76. Theflange 12 may be detachably secured to flange ring 14 by conventionalmeans such as a plurality of bolts 18, and the joint may be rendered gastight by suitable means such as an interposed sealing gasket 80.

The inner end of housing 88 may be provided with an outwardly offsetannular flange 82 secured thereto by an annular weld 83, and diaphragm52 may be secured between this flange and an annular flange ring 84 bysuitable means such as a plurality of bolts 86. The central portion ofdiaphragm 62 may be supported on the side facing the spring housing 68by a diaphragm pressure plate 88 of suitable size and form located inrecess 89 in flange 82. This diaphragm plate may be secured to thediaphragm by suitable means such as a diaphragm yoke 96 having asomewhat smaller shank 92 extending inwardand suitable openings at thecenter of diaphragm 62 and pressure plate 38, where a threaded portionis engaged by a suitable clamping nut 95 from which a reducedcylindrical portion extends inwardly a suitable distance into casing 68.

In order to materially increase the sensitivity and range of movement ofdiaphragm 62 to variations in pressure within the generator, tworelatively long and limber pressure balancing springs 64 and 66 may beemployed in placeof a single relatively short and stiff spring such asthose employed heretofore, and to conserve space and secure thenecessary spring pressure on the diaphragm these springs may beoppositely coiled one within the other and compressed within casing 68toa small fraction of their original length. The free length of thesesprings may be of the order of from two to four times their workinglength, which may be substantially the length of their containingcasing.

Not only is the free length of these springs be integral with the spout40, and the outer end provided with the above-mentioned operating handleI54. Between the cam I52 and the handle I54 the connecting shaft I56 mayextend through a suitable opening in partition I60 which separates thecarbide containing and gas storage chamber B from the accessorycompartment D and also forms part of the outer casing of the generator,and this opening may be provided with or include a suitable stufiing boxI62 to prevent the escape of gas from within the generator. In order tosecurely hold the carbide valve in closed position and also prevent thecam from being rotated to an unsafe position, the cam I52 may beprovided with a suitable stop such as a projection I64 that extendsoutwardly from the closed end of the cam and arrests the closingmovement when the valve is tightly closed.

During the operation of generators of this type the finer particles ofcarbide such as carbide dust may collect on the operating mechanism ofthe carbide valve and coact with the moisture within the generator,thereby forming a carbide sludge that interferes with the proper actionof the relatively moving parts. Also, any variation from the correctrelative location of the valve operating structure and the valve seatmay cause improper operation. In this .generator both of thesecontingencies may be obviated by providing the interior mechanism with acombined carbide shield and locating plate I 66 that covers theoperating mechanism and is secured at the inner margin to the under sideof hopper casting 44 by a suitable number of the attaching bolts 46, andis secured at the outer margin to flange 82 of control unit F by asuitable number of the attaching bolts 86. This plate protects theoperating mechanism from carbide and sludge and also maintains thecarbide valve in correct operating relation with respect to the valveseat. Heretofore, during the operation of generators of this type, aportion of the feeding carbide collected on the carbide Valve supportingor operating structure, and then when the generator was placed ininoperative condition and moved, this carbide dropped into the water inthe generator and caused undesirable generation of gas. In the presentgenerator, this undesirable contingency has been overcome by providingthe carbide valve operating mechanism with a feed lever I32 of which theportion in the path of the feeding carbide is curved or inclineddownwardly so that the feeding carbide will not collect there on in anundesirable quantity.

When the valve operating mechanism of this generator becomes damaged orinoperative, its return to service is expedited by the unit constructionwhich greatly facilitates field assembly and replacement. For example,the generator may be readily opened by removing bolts I4 and theinterior mechanism rendered accessible by tipping the upper portion Bbackwardly on the hinges I until it comes to rest on the chargingplatform 36, as described in copending application of Maurice P. DeMotte and Clarence H. Baker, Serial No. 739,731, filed August 14, 1934,and then by removing the bolts I8 and the shield I66, the entire carbidefeed and pressure control assembly may be detached from the generator asa unit, and another similar unit in proper operating adjustment may besubstituted. This feature greatly facilitates repairs and reduces thetime that damaged or inoperative generators are out of service. In casethe damage is to the operating structure outside the spring housing 68,this mechanism may also be removed as a self-contained unit by removingshield I66 and bolts 86 which releases the diaphragm, diaphragm ring,and other connected structure, which may be replaced by an operativeunit.

When the carbide valve is closed and, preferably, locked in closedposition, the generator may be charged and recharged in a well knownmanner. To start operation, the carbide valve is unlocked and permittedto remain open for short periods of time until sufficient gas has beengenerated to operate the automatic control after which the gas pressurewill be automatically maintained until the carbide becomes exhausted.

In addition to the features specifically described and claimed herein,the generator may be provided with an inclosed compartment in which theaccessory equipment is located within the general outline of thegenerator casing. The generator may also be provided with an improvedinterlocking mechanism by which the manual operating sequence of theaccessory equipment is controlled when the generator is opened orrecharged. These features are covered by the previously referred tocopending application Serial No. 739,731. The generator may be furtherprovided with an improved pressure regulator and filter which may belocated in a new and useful position, and this feature is covered by mycopending application Serial No. 738,099, filed August 2, 1934. Theinvention herein is closely related to the invention which is shown,described, and claimed in my continuation-in-part application Serial No.154,159 filed July 17. 1937.

The structure, form, and relative arrangement, of the features describedmay be difierent from that shown, and the materials employed may bethose well known in the art or those similar or equivalent to the onesdefined, without departing from the useful features of the invention ofwhich the present embodiment is but one example of a general structureby which the useful results of the invention are obtained.

I claim:

1. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing adapted to containa partial filling of water; a carbide hopper in the upper portion ofsaid casing having an outlet opening above the surface of said water; anannular drip flange rigidly secured to said hopper around and below saidoutlet opening, said flange being provided with an interior annularrecess; an annular valve seat of relatively soft rubber within saidflange around said outlet opening and backed up throughout the extent ofits annular surface by a rigid support; means for securing said valveseat within said drip flange comprising a relatively rigid annularretaining plate within said drip flange below said valve seat, and aspring ring between said plate and the lower wall of said recess; amovable mushroom-type carbide valve adapted to cooperate with said valveseat and form a fluid-tight closure for said outlet; and means foroperating said valve to feed carbide from said hopper into said Water.

2. An acetylene generator comprising a carmuch greater with. respect totheir Working length than springs employed in devices of this kindheretofore, but the diameter of the. springs is much greater withrespect to their working length, and the diameter or sectional area ofthe spring material is much less in proportion to the diameter of thesprings. long length and small size of the spring material, thesensitivity and range of movement of these springs in response to agiven change in pressure upon the diaphragm is much greater than that ofthe springs employed heretofore. Also, two springs in parallel are moresensitive, more reliable, more uniform, and deteriorate less instrength, than a single spring of equivalent strength or stiffness.

In prior devices of this type, the free length of the spring was usuallyless than the interior length of the casing in which it was housed, andtherefore field assembly was not a problem. If the. present springs weresimply substituted for 'those employed heretofore, field assembly wouldbe extremely difficult due to the lack of suitable means for releasingand recompressing the springs. Therefore, these springs are compressedto a small fraction of their free length and secured between suitablyattached relatively movable spring-pressure plates so that the assembly,together with a suitable tension-adjusting screw if desirable, may beremoved from or inserted in the'apparatus as a unit. Also, this assemblyis suitable for use with other spring" controlled apparatus.

In the complete assembly, as shown by the drawing, the springs 64 and 66may be secured in housing 68 under a suitable degree of compressionbetween an outer spring pressure plate 98 and an inner spring pressureplate I00, and these spring pressure plates may be secured together bysuitable means such as a plurality of bolts or screws I02. Any suitablenumber of these bolts may be employed, such as three for example, andthey may extend between the, pressure plates within the springs. Inorder to provide relative movement between the pressure plates, each ofthe bolts I02 may be rigidly secured in a suitable opening in onepressure-plate, such as inner plate I00, by conventional means such asinterfitting threads, and extend'locsely through a suitable opening inthe other pressure plate, such as outer plate 98, outside of which itmay be provided with a suitable enlargement such as a head I04.

' 1 The inner pressure plate I may be positioned axially and restrainedfrom transverse movement to a position Where it may come'intoundesirable frictional engagement with housing 68 by providing thecentral portion with a suitable opening I05 that fits loosely withoutundesirable lost motion on the inner end of shank 92. Also, the pressureof springs 64 and 66 may be transmitted to the diaphragm by providingthe inner side of diaphragm pressure plate 80 with an annular boss or aplurality of lugs I06 arranged in a circular row around shank 92 withtheir outer ends in contact with spring pressure plate I03.

In assemblies of this type, it has been the custom heretofore to threada manually adjustable screw in the outer end of the spring housing tovary the position of the outer spring plate and adjust the operatingtension of the diaphragm balancing spring. Such adjusting screwsnaturally project various distances according to their position ofadjustment, and therefore they were left exposed to injury. To obw'atethis danger Therefore, due' to the of injury to the adjusting screw, theouter adjustable spring pressure plate 98 may be provided with a centralopening I08 in threaded engagement with a stationary adjusting screw IIOthat extends outwardly through a suitable opening in the closed end ofhousing 68 into an outer annular boss I I2 where the outer end isprovided with a contour such as a square II4 suitable for engagement byan appropriate key or wrench. The outer end of this screw may be furtherprotected by a suitable cap IIB which may be threaded or otherwisesecured to the outside of boss H2.

The boss II2 may be integral with the spring housing 68 or, tofacilitate manufacture, it may be a separate element secured in asuitable opening in the outer end of housing 68 by conventional meanssuch as an autogenous weld I I8.

To facilitate ease of adjustment, screw I I0. may be provided with anintegral thrust collar I within housing 68 that rests on a suitablebearing such as a ball thrust bearing I24 located in a suitable recessin the inner surface of the housing 68 or the inserted boss H2, and toobviate disengagement of ad usting screw H0 and spring plate 98 theinner end of this screw may be provided with a suitable stop such as awasher I26 which may be secured to the end of the screw by suitablemeans such as a bolt I28. Also, adjustment may be further facilitated byproviding casing 68 with a fixed rod or stud I30 that extends through asuitable eccentric opening in spring plate 98 and holds it againstrotation when the adjusting screw is moved. To further facilitateoperation of the mechanism in casing 68, this mechanism'may belubricated with suitable material such as light cup greasel Q Thecarbide valve 60 may be carried by mechanism suitably connected with thediaphragm such as a. feed lever I32 of. suitable form having means suchas a slot in the outer end in which the carbide valve is operablysecured by a suitable means such as a pin I34. This feed lever may behinged on a suitable hinge pin I36 extending across an appropriate slotformed by lugs I38 of a feed lever support I40 that may be integral withflange ring 84. The carbide feed lever may be connected with thediaphragm by suitable means such as a connecting member or link I42having one end secured on a suitable pin I44 in diaphragm yoke 90, andthe other end provided with a slot I46-that slidingly engages .a pin I48fixed in feed lever I3 2. The pin I48 and slot I46 in link I42 comprisea lost motion connection which provides suitable relative movementbetween the diaphragm and the feed lever so that the carbide valve maybe manually. closed without placing an objectionable strain'on thediaphragm and associated valve operating'structure.

For the purpose of holding the carbide valve closed when desirable, suchas when the generator is moved or when it is recharged, suitable meansmay be provided for operating the valve manually. include a valveclosing arm or looking lever I50 integral with feed lever I32 and inoperative relation with a suitable cam I52 operably conected with asuitable manually movable member such as handle I54 which is preferablylocated outside the generator casing within the accessory compartment D.

The cam I52 may be rigidly secured by suitable means such as aconventional pin to an appropriate shaft I56 having the inner endthereof This manual operating means may I suitably journaled in abearing I58, which may 7 operably connecting said automatic means withsaid valve support including a limited lost-motion connection providingsufficient relative movement between said automatic means and said valvesupport so that said valve may be manually closed without placing anobjectionable strain on said automatic means, but still enabling saidautomatic means to effect positive opening of said carbide valve whensaid manually closing means is moved to an ineffective position.

3. An acetylene generator comprising a carbide hopper provided with acarbide outlet; a carbide feed valve; a suitably mounted lever forsupporting said carbide feed valve in operative relation to said carbideoutlet; means comprising a manually operable cam in operative relationwith said lever for closing said carbide valve; pressure responsivemeans suitably mounted adjacent said lever for closing said carbidevalve; and means for operatively connecting said pressure responsivemeans with said lever comprising a link having a slot therein thatcooperates with a suitable supporting pin and provides sufficientrelative movement between said pressure responsive means and said leverso that said carbide valve may be manually closed without placing anobjectionable strain on said pressure responsive means, but stillenabling said automatic means to effect positive opening of said carbidevalve when said manually closing means is moved to an ineffectiveposition.

4. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing having an openingin the lateral wall thereof; a carbide hopper in the upper portion ofsaid casing having an outlet adjacent the opening in said casing; meansfor controlling the feed of carbide from said outlet comprising acarbide feed valve and automatic valve operating mechanism operativelyconnected into a self-contained operative unit; and means for removablysecuring said unit in the opening within said casing and with saidcarbide feed valve in operative relation with the carbide outlet of saidcarbide hopper.

5. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing forming a gaschamber and having an open compartment in one side within the generaloutline thereof; a carbide hopper within the upper portion of saidcasing having a carbide outlet; a carbide valve for controlling the feedof carbide from said outlet; a suitably mounted lever for supportingsaid valve in operative relation with said outlet; and means formanually closing said valve comprising a cam within said generator inoperative relation with said lever, an operating handle outside of saidcasing within said compartment, and means for operatively connectingsaid cam with said handle.

6. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing; a carbide hopperwithin the upper portion of said casing having a depending carbideoutlet; a carbide feed valve for controlling the feed of carbide fromsaid outlet; valve operating mechanism secured to said casingsubstantially entirely within said generator adjacent to but spaced fromsaid outlet; suitable mechanism for operatively connecting said valveoperating mechanism with said valve; and a cover plate suitably securedto said operating mechanism and said hopper above said connectingmechanism for protecting said connecting mechanism from falling carbidedust and also maintaining a correctly spaced operative relation betweensaid valve and said outlet.

7. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing; a carbide hopperwithin said casing having an outlet; a carbide valve for controlling thefeed of carbide from said outlet; means for operatively moving saidvalve comprising a diaphragm responsive to the pressure within saidgenerator; means for supporting said diaphragm comprising a springhousing in operative relation therewith; and means for balancing the gaspressure upon said diaphragm comprising a plurality of springscompressed within said housing to a small portion of their free lengthand capable of being inserted within or removed from said housing as aunitary assembly and without relieving said initial compression.

8. An acetylene generator comprising a carbide feed valve; means foroperatively moving said valve comprising a diaphragm responsive to thepressure within said generator; means for supporting said diaphragmcomprising a spring housing operatively secured thereto andsubstantially entirely within said generator; means forbalancing thepressure upon said diaphragm comprising a suitable spring within saidhousing; means for mounting said spring in said housing comprising anadjustable spring pressure plate; and means for adjusting the tension ofsaid spring comprising a stationary adjusting screw rotatively mountedin said housing in threaded engagement with said pressure plate. I

9. An acetylene generator comprising a carbide feed valve; means foroperatively moving said valve comprising a diaphragm responsive to thepressure within said generator; means for supporting said diaphragmcomprising a spring housing operatively secured thereto; means forbalancing the pressure upon said diaphragm comprising a suitable springwithin said housing; means for mounting said spring within said housingcomprising an adjustable spring pressure plate; means for adjusting thetension of said spring comprising a centrally collared stationaryadjusting screw rotatively mounted in said housing in threadedengagement with said pressure plate; and means for facilitating the easymovement of said adjusting screw comprising a ball thrust bearingbetween the collared portion of said screw and the inner surface of saidhousing. v

1%). An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing provided with alateral opening; a carbide hopper within said casing having a dependingoutlet adjacent said opening; means for controlling the flow of carbidefrom said outlet comprising a carbide valve in operative relation withsaid opening; means for operatively moving said.

valve comprising a diaphragm responsive to the pressure within saidgenerator; means for supporting said diaphragm comprising a housingsuitably mounted within said opening with a portion thereof outside ofsaid casing provided with an annular boss; means for balancing thepressure upon said diaphragm comprising a spring suitably mounted insaid housing in operative relation with said diaphragm; means foradjusting the operating tension of said spring comprising a stationaryadjusting screw rotatively mounted within said housing in operativerelation with said spring and provided with an operable portionextending through said casing into the opening in said annular boss; andmeans for protecting said screw from exposure to damage comprising a capsuitably secured to said boss over the operable portion of said screw.

11. An acetylene generator comprising a carbide hopper having an outlet;means for controlling the flow of carbide from said outlet comprising acarbide feed valve in operative relation therewith; means foroperatively moving said valve comprising a diaphragm responsive to thepressure within said generator; means for supporting said diaphragmcomprising a housing suitably secured to the outer margin thereof; meansfor supporting the central portion of said diaphragm against thegenerator pressure exerted thereon comprising a diaphragm pressure platesuitably secured to the central portion of said diaphragm within saidhousing; means forbalancing the pressure upon said diaphragm comprisinga partially compressed spring within said housing; means for operativelymounting said spring within said housing comprising a movable springpressure plate in operative relation with one end of said spring andbearing on said diaphragm pressure plate, and an adjustable springpressure plate in operative relation with the other end of said spring;and means connecting said spring pressure plates to limit the expansionof said spring to substantially the length of said housing.

12. An acetylene generator comprising an outer casing provided with alateral opening; a carbide hopper within said casing having a dependingoutlet adjacent said opening; a carbide valve for controlling the flowof carbide from said outlet; valve operating means comprising a springcasing mounted within said lateral opening and provided with an annularflange around the inner end thereof; a pressure responsive diaphragm onsaid flange; means for securing .said diaphragm to said flangecomprising a flange ring provided with a feed lever support; a suitablespring within said housing for balancing the pressure on said diaphragm;means for supporting said carbide valve in operative relation with saidoutlet comprising a feed lever operatively mounted on said feed leversupport; and means I01 operably connecting said diaphragm to said feedlever.

13. A spring assembly adapted to be unitarily inserted within or removedfrom a housing of a spring controlled apparatus comprising a pluralityof spring pressure plates in opposed relation; a plurality of springscompressed between said spring pressure plates to a small portion oftheir free length; and means for connecting said pressure platescomprising a plurality of connecting members rigidly secured to one ofsaid pressure plates but movable with respect to the other of saidpressure plates; adjustable means for further compressing said springsto a length less than that of said connecting members,

14. A spring assembly adapted to be unitarily inserted within or removedfrom a housing of a spring controlled apparatus comprising a pluralityof reversely coiled springs located one within the other and compressedto a small portion of their free length; a movable spring pressure platein operative relation with one end of said springs and provided withmeans by which it may be operatively connected to said apparatus; anadjustable spring pressure plate in operative relation with the otherend of said springs and provided with an opening; an adjusting membermovably mounted in said opening and provided with means by which'it maybe operatively connected to said apparatus; and means for securing saidspring pressure plates against separation comprising a plurality ofconnecting members of which each is rigidly secured to one of saidspring pressure plates and movably secured to the other of said pressureplates so that said springs may be further compressed during operation.7

15. An acetylene gas generator comprising a lower housing adapted tocontain water; a substantially cylindrical upper housing incommunicative registry with said lower housing and constructed andarranged to provide a gas 001-- lecting chamber and a compartmentindependent of said chamber within the continuity of the outline of saidupper housing; a carbide hopper and a feed-valve, both within said gaschamber; pressure responsive means located substantially entirely withinthe upper housing in oper ative association with said feed-valve; andmeans for manually closing said feed-valve located within said upperhousing and extending into said compartment.

16. An acetylene generator comprising a lower section adapted to containwater; an upper section having an opening in the lateral wall thereof,said section containi g a carbide hopper having an outlet adjacent vtosaid opening in said lateral wall of said upper section; a carbide feedvalve associated with said hopper outlet; and a spring-balancedpressure-responsive control device adapted to be removably securedsubstantially wholly within the opening in the lateral wall of saidupper section in operative association with said feed valve, said deviceincluding a housing and a spring assembly adapted to be positionedwithin or removed from said housing as a unitary assembly.

MAURICE P. DE MOTTE.

